Unconfirmed Bergdahl to be charged with desertion

[wmenorr67]

Looks like he's going for the "whistleblower defense", claiming that he was walking to the nearest outpost to report "order and discipline" problems in his unit.

It's actually kind of a brilliant defense given the circumstances (based on public info), because, how do you prove beyond reasonable doubt that he wasn't? Not that it would get him out of a desertion charge, but it could get him leniency. Of course of note is that this is only coming out now, versus months ago, after the trade.

Right, just after he had mailed all his personal belongings home and walked off without any means of defense.  Oh, might I add that the local villagers that were interviewed said he was specifically looking for the Taliban.

[Scout26]

Has there been any sign in all of this that the military could have withheld from Obama the fact that Bergdahl was a deserter? I was thinking that, if I were in charge of the military and had a chance to keep Obama in the dark about something so that he'd go and make a fool of himself, I'd jump at that chance.

Zero.  He would have to briefed in at some point before the charges were preferred.  Which would also include a warning about "undue command influence".


Bergdahl will be Courts-Martialed. Whatever happens, happens.  Then Obama will pardon him on 19 Jan 2017.


And yes, the "whistle blower defense" won't work.   Where was he going to blow said whistle?  He had (and would have more) ample opportunities to report any "problems".  A  simple "I want to use the open door policy to see the Company Commander/Battalion Commander/Brigade Commander/Division Commander." and you have to put him on the next thing (Truck or Chopper) headed to the rear.   Nothing you can do to stop him.

[Ben]

And yes, the "whistle blower defense" won't work.   Where was he going to blow said whistle?  He had (and would have more) ample opportunities to report any "problems".  A  simple "I want to use the open door policy to see the Company Commander/Battalion Commander/Brigade Commander/Division Commander." and you have to put him on the next thing (Truck or Chopper) headed to the rear.   Nothing you can do to stop him.

From the talking head quotes I heard, he (or his attorney) is trying to say that he couldn't trust any of his officers. Lame excuse regardless, but from what you guys in the know are saying, there's no way he'll be able to pull it off given documented procedures. I wonder why he's going for this defense? If he has a civilian attorney, you'd think he'd have one that was at least basically versed in .mil procedures.

[lupinus]

From the talking head quotes I heard, he (or his attorney) is trying to say that he couldn't trust any of his officers. Lame excuse regardless, but from what you guys in the know are saying, there's no way he'll be able to pull it off given documented procedures. I wonder why he's going for this defense? If he has a civilian attorney, you'd think he'd have one that was at least basically versed in .mil procedures.

When ya ain't got many lures in the ol tackle box ya gotta make due with what ya got

[Fitz]

Zero.  He would have to briefed in at some point before the charges were preferred.  Which would also include a warning about "undue command influence".


Bergdahl will be Courts-Martialed. Whatever happens, happens.  Then Obama will pardon him on 19 Jan 2017.


And yes, the "whistle blower defense" won't work.   Where was he going to blow said whistle?  He had (and would have more) ample opportunities to report any "problems".  A  simple "I want to use the open door policy to see the Company Commander/Battalion Commander/Brigade Commander/Division Commander." and you have to put him on the next thing (Truck or Chopper) headed to the rear.   Nothing you can do to stop him.

This

[Scout26]

In addition, there is always the "Nuclear" option.  Mailing (either E- or snail type) your congresscritter.   Again, if the "problems" were that bad.  To whom was he going to complain to when he went walkabout?   I don't think there are many payphones in that part of A-stan.  Nor were there anyone he could complain to correct said "Problems" in his unit.

[Andiron]

Riiiight, because the DSN and email of the IG isn't posted right next to the SHARP* contact numbers every damn where, up to and including often on the walls above the urinal's and inside doors of porta-lets and toilet stalls. And his BC's memorandum on Open Door policy wasn't posted along with all the other command policies, and there wasn't an NCO support chain all the way back to freaking CENTCOM that could be used both by DSN and e-mail......Oh, wait...............




*Sexual Harrasment/Assault Response and Prevention.

Good old UVA graffiti.  More common than cartoon sharpie cocks in portajohns.

[wmenorr67]

Also if before the nuclear option, contacting a Senator or Representative, as I believe someone stated before, he could have contacted the IG offices.

[Ben]

The whistleblower defense seems to be blowing up in his face. A bunch of the guys from his unit are getting MSM time with "WTF?" statements similar to what the .mil guys here are posting.

[wmenorr67]

Let me add that at least 6 Service Members were killed in action looking for this jackass and not sure how many more wounded.